The beginning of a new year is one of my favorite times of the year! After the madness of a busy holiday season, the new year signals a time to reset. Each January, we have an opportunity to reflect on who we are, who we wish to be, and how we choose to approach life’s coming challenges. The chaos we endured last year can, thankfully, be remedied with a few days of indulgence and pampering.
Just two and a half hours from Tulsa, the Artesian Hotel & Sole-renity Spa in Sulphur, Oklahoma, is the perfect destination for such a retreat. The 81-room resort offers ample opportunities for rest and restoration. “The original Artesian Hotel was an oasis of luxury, tucked away near the restorative springs of Sulphur,” explains General Manager Logan Curry. “Today, [it is] Oklahoma’s foremost destination for pampering, dining, gaming and indulgent relaxation.”
Elegantly styled with cream-colored marble and richly stained wood, the hotel is luxuriously furnished with cozy sitting areas. The Fountain Club Lounge nestled behind the foyer is a refined setting for a cocktail or light snack, and The Springs Restaurant serves homestyle-inspired fare with sweeping vistas of the nearby national park. There is even a casino tastefully located in an adjoining building for those interested in trying their luck.
The Bathhouse, however, is the refuge I would recommend for the weary traveler. In addition to an indoor-outdoor pool and lounge spaces, it features an “oversized whirlpool [with] a stone waterfall and tiled pool with six separate seating areas that can accommodate four to six people each. Together, the cascading falls, churning water and LED lighting combine for a relaxing way to unwind.”
Sole-renity Spa – named one of the Top 100 Spas by Spas of America for the past five years – is the Artesian’s true gem. Director Rhonda Pitmon has carefully cultivated a cornucopia of indulgent services: from simple manicures and pedicures to the latest trends in spa and wellness services, such as oxygen-infused body treatments, raindrop therapy, and advanced skincare technology.
In addition to use of the on-site gym, Sole-renity Spa guests enjoy separate men’s and women’s locker rooms featuring relaxation areas and hydrotherapy facilities, including a detoxifying dry sauna and eucalyptus-infused steam room. A sulfur hydra soak is available for those wishing to pay homage to Sulphur’s natural mineral springs, and special aromatherapy blends transform scrubs, wraps, facials, and massages into rituals of healing and stress reduction.
With Assistant Director Melinda Culbertson, Pitmon has cultivated a staff of skilled technicians dedicated to providing exceptional care and is continually looking for new ways to enhance guests’ experience. Sole-renity has recently added a high-end line of essential oils by Aromatherapy Associates to their treatments. This year, Pitmon looks forward to introducing a custom essential oil signature scent for Sole-renity Spa.
Sole-renity Spa offers monthly wellness memberships for guests wishing to use spa amenities, such as the on-site gym and hydrotherapy, and receive discounts on products and services.
Royal treatment is not reserved for adults only. Little Soles Kid’s Spa, decorated in vibrant colors and miniature pedicure thrones, specializes in child-sized spa parties complete with “soaks and scrubs, yummy smelling lotions, face masks and tiaras, glitter tattoos, and nail polish in every color.”
Visit ArtesianHotel.com or call (855) 455-5255 to plan your getaway.
Healing Waters
Sulphur’s mineral water springs have long been a mecca for those seeking healing, as soaks were prescribed for a variety of ailments. While aristocrats in Europe flocked to resort towns to “take the waters” during the late 19th Century, so too did Americans seek places like Sulphur’s springs. The original Artesian Hotel was built in 1904 amidst this craze which saw tourists and celebrities clamoring to southern Oklahoma. Though a fire destroyed it in the 1960s, the Chickasaw Nation graciously rebuilt the Artesian Hotel in the same design in 2014, so that future generations could enjoy the healing waters.
The nearby 187-acre Chickasaw National Recreation Area promises restoration amidst nature’s beauty. Along over 20 miles of trails – some offering short, purposeful walks and others more challenging excursions, nature enthusiasts can spot birds and bison in grassland prairies or hike through forest terrain. Freshwater streams and waterfalls provide a peaceful backdrop for reflection while Lake of the Arbuckles has places for swimming, fishing and boating. The park also has six campgrounds for RV and tent camping. It was named one of the 10 Best National Parks for RV Camping for 2023 by USA Today. For more information about the National Park, visit nps.gov/chic.
“We are here to help people live well.” - Director Rhonda Pitmon, Sole-renity Spa
“Everyone deserves a little pampering sometimes.”